Geranium plant named &#39;Fisdapi&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of geranium plant named ‘Fisdapi’, as described and illustrated, and particularly characterized by the combined features of large, round, pink and purple, bi-colored flowers, relatively large and wide inflorescences, dark-green foliage, and medium sized, uniform plant habit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofgeranium, botanically known as Pelargonium zonale, and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name ‘Fisdapi’.

[0002] ‘Fisdapi’ is a product of a planned breeding program which hadthe objective of creating new geranium varieties with bi-colored flowersin combination with dark-green foliage.

[0003] ‘Fisdapi’ originated from a hybridization made by the inventorAngelika Utecht in a controlled breeding program in Galdar, GranCanaria, Spain, in 1995. The female parent is an unpatented hybridseedling, no. K93-859-4, which was derived from a cross of theunpatented variety ‘Flofiti’ and the variety ‘Feeling’ (U.S. Plant Pat.No. 6,717).

[0004] ‘Flofiti’ is characterized by pink flowers with darker eyes,large umbels, uniform, dark-green foliage, and moderately compact planthabit. ‘Feeling’ has large pink flowers with macules, and large umbels,medium green foliage with weak zonation, and more moderately compactplant habit and well-branched.

[0005] The male parent of ‘Fisdapi’ is the patented cultivar ‘Fisbravo’,(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,765), characterized by pink colored flowers withlarge purple eyes, dark-green, slightly zoned foliage and moderatelycompact plant habit.

[0006] ‘Fisdapi’ was selected as one flowering plant within the progenyof the stated cross by Angelika Utecht in 1996 in a controlledenvironment in Galdar, Gran Canaria, Spain.

[0007] The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Fisdapi’ wasaccomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initialselection in the fall of 1996 in a controlled environment in Galdar,Gran Canaria, Spain, by, or under the supervision of, Angelika Utecht.

[0008] Horticultural examination of plants grown from cuttings of theplant initiated in May 1998 in Hillscheid, Federal Republic of Germany,and continuing thereafter, has demonstrated that the combination ofcharacteristics as herein disclosed for ‘Fisdapi’ are firmly fixed andare retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. Thenew cultivar reproduces true to type.

[0009] ‘Fisdapi’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and day length.

[0010] The following observations, measurements, and comparisonsdescribe plants grown in Hillscheid, Germany, and in Langley, BritishColumbia, Canada, under greenhouse conditions which approximate thosegenerally used in commercial practice.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The following traits have been repeatedly observed and aredetermined to be basic characteristics of ‘Fisdapi’ which in combinationdistinguish this geranium as a new and distinct cultivar:

[0012] 1. round, dark-pink flowers with large purple eyes;

[0013] 2. wide umbels on long peduncles;

[0014] 3. dark-green foliage, usually without zonation;

[0015] 4. moderately compact growth, and medium sized, round planthabit; and

[0016] 5. mid season spring flowering response.

[0017] Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor,the closest comparison to ‘Fisdapi’ is the parental cultivar ‘Fisbravo’.

[0018] In comparison to ‘Fisbravo’, ‘Fisdapi’ has flowers of similarshape and size, and with a similar markings, but the general flowercolor is much deeper and more intense. Umbels of ‘Fisdapi’ are somewhatlarger, rounder in shape and are consist of a higher number of flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The accompanying photographic drawing shows typical flower andfoliage characteristics of ‘Fisdapi’ with colors being as true aspossible with an illustration of this type. The plants were grown in 8inch containers and had not been pinched.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

[0020] In the following description color references are made to TheRoyal Horticultural Society Color Chart (RHS). The color values weredetermined indoors from flowers developed in a green-house in May, 2000in Hillscheid, Germany. The measurements were taken in Langley in earlyJuly, 2001, 18 weeks after planting of rooted cuttings.

[0021] Classification:

[0022]Botanical.—A hybrid of the species Pelargonium zonale L'Hérit.

[0023] Inflorescence:

[0024]Type.—Umbel.

[0025]Shape.—Semi-spherical to umbrella-shape.

[0026]Average diameter.—134 mm.

[0027]Average depth.—76 mm.

[0028]Peduncle length.—228 mm.

[0029]Peduncle color.—Mostly green, RHS 143 B, in parts slightlybrownish RHS 173 A.

[0030]Pedicel length.—34 mm, occasionally with spur (rare for a zonalevariety).

[0031]Pedicel color.—Base green, RHS 144 A, middle brownish 179 A, nearupper end dark brown-red, RHS 184 A.

[0032]Number of flowers per umbel.—Average 20 to 25.

[0033] Corolla:

[0034]Average diameter.—52 mm.

[0035]Form.—Semi-double.

[0036]Shape.—Round.

[0037]Number of petals.—Average 7.4.

[0038]Number of petaloids.—Average 0-1.

[0039]Shape of petals.—Obovate, base acute, upper end is truncate orrounded, margins are entire, occasionally slightly serrulated at thetips.

[0040]Size of petals.—Upper petals.—26-28 mm long, 19-24 mm wide(somewhat variable); lower petals: 24-26 mm long, 23-25 mm wide.

[0041]Color (general tonality from a distance of three meters).—Bluishpink, with large brilliant red eyes.

[0042]Color of upper petals.—Near margin RHS 66 C.

[0043]Markings of upper petals.—Large red macules, between RHS 52 A andRHS 57 A, white bases, RHS 155 D, distinct purple veins RHS 74 C.

[0044]Color of lower petals.—Somewhat variable from RHS 66 C to RHS 68A.

[0045]Markings of lower petals.—Red macules, RHS 57 B, and light pinkbases, from approximately RHS 68 C to RHS 68 D.

[0046]Color of lower surface of petals.—Mainly RHS 73 A, towards thebases lighter RHS 73 C, and reddish veins, RHS 74 C.

[0047]Color of sepals.—Outer surface: base dark brown, RHS 181 A, tipslight green RHS 143 B to RHS 143 C; inner surface: base RHS 179 A, tipsRHS 143 C.

[0048]Number of sepals.—5.

[0049]Shape of sepals.—Linear to lanceolate, acute tip, truncate base,surface with weak, very short pubescence, margin entire.

[0050]Size of sepals.—10- 11 mm long, 4 mm wide for the largest uppersepal, 2-3 mm in width for the other sepals.

[0051] Bud (just before petals unfold):

[0052]Shape.—Narrow elliptical.

[0053]Color (lower part, sepals).—Green, RHS 143 B.

[0054]Color (upper part, petals).—Purple-pink, somewhat variable fromRHS 66 C to RHS 66 D.

[0055]Length.—18-20 mm.

[0056]Width.—9 mm.

[0057] Reproductive organs:

[0058]Androecium.—7 fertile anthers, filaments white, RHS 155 D, tolight pink, RHS 66 D, plenty of pollen production, orange, RHS 30A.

[0059]Gynoecium.—One pistil per plant, red style and stigma, RHS 57 A, 5to 6-lobed stigma.

[0060]Fertility/seed set.—No seed observed.

[0061] Spring flowering response period: In Hillscheid, Germany, in 2000plants had on average 1.3 flowers open 9 weeks after planting of rootedcuttings

[0062] Outdoor flower production: Continuously flowering, the flowercount in 2000 in Hillscheid, Germany, indicated on average 3inflorescences per plant in mid May.

[0063] Durability: Good stability of flower color; relatively good rainresistance

[0064] Lastingness of the individual flower: About 8-9 days at 18° C,about 18 days for the umbel

[0065] Fragrance: None

[0066] Pest/Disease Resistance/Susceptibility: No observations to date

[0067] Plant:

[0068] Foliage:

[0069]Shape.—Kidney-shaped, with relatively distinct lobes, with open towide open, cordate base.

[0070]Margin.—Bicrenated, distinctly wavy.

[0071]Texture.—Upper surface smooth, velvety.

[0072]Size of leaf.—98.5 mm wide, 62.5 mm long.

[0073]Color of upper surface.—Dark-green, approximately RHS 137 A to RHS137B.

[0074]Zonation.—Usually absent, only very weak on young leaves: darkergreen color, about RHS 147 A.

[0075]Color of lower surface.—RHS 137 D.

[0076]Petioles.—60-70 mm long, 3-4 mm in diameter, light tomedium-green, RHS 137 D.

[0077] General appearance and form:

[0078]Stem color.—Green, RHS 137 D.

[0079]Internode length.—10 - 30 mm.

[0080]Branching pattern.—8.0 branches.

[0081]Size of plants.—Height of foliage canopy 28 cm, width/diameter:42.6 cm (measured from the top of the soil (base of the main stem) tothe surface, without inflorescences).

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of geranium plant named‘Fisdapi’, as described and illustrated herein.